Author
Topic: Can we kill the small talk at work? (Read 2681 times)

No you don't care how my weekend was so stop asking me. But you only ask so I can ask you how yours was which will give you the opportunity to impress and make everyone envious over how great your weekend was.

This is no one in particular.

Most people think I am extremely rude and arrogant because I don't say "Hello" or "Good Morning" to anyone in the office when they look at me.

What you are owed a Hello?

Ya I see you sitting in the chair, what do you want me to say?

I like to clock in, get my work done and get out of there.

LOL and people from work wanna grab drinks after work...to talk and do what exactly?

How you planted a new garden in your background? Yeah I really care. How you got a brand new car? Yeah I really care. Etc. etc.

I'm down for a real conversation and discussion, but nobody has anything interesting to talk about it seems...

I guess that's why we have message boards.

Logged

“There is your brother, naked, crying, and you stand there confused over the choice of an attractive floor covering.”

You should move to Finland. Most of the Finns are unable to have a small talk. Actually we don't generally speak anything to each other. That's why we invented mobile phones and internet. No need to actually meet people anymore.

Small talk is essential over here. Danes are horrible at communicating, especially with people you don't know well. Small talk can be a great way to open up to other people and then pave the way for more serious conversation.

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Do not be cast down over the struggle - the Lord loves a brave warrior. The Lord loves the soul that is valiant.

In a field where many are qualified to do the work, the most important discriminator is how the person fits into the team I'm trying to build. How does the candidate relate to those with whom he will be working? If all you want to do is come to work, work your eight hours, not talk with those around you, and go home at the end of the day, then I have no place for you. If you want to work for me, you have to fit the team I'm trying to build. For you to fit the team I'm trying to build, the rest of the team has to like you.

'One of the things Ford Prefect found hard to understand about human beings 'was their habit of continually stating and re-stating the very, very obvious, as in:"Nice morning" 'First, Ford formed a theory to account for this strange behaviour. 'lf human beings don't exercise their lips, he thought, 'their mouths probably seize up. 'After a while, he abandoned this theory in favour of a new one. 'lf they don't exercise their lips, he thought, 'their brains start working. 'In fact, this second theory is more literally true of the Belcerebon People 'of Kakrafoon Kappa. 'The Belcerebons used to cause great resentment amongst neighbouring races 'by being one of the most enlightened, accomplished 'and, above all, quiet civilisations in the Galaxy. 'As a punishment for this behaviour, 'which was held to be offensively self-righteous and provocative, 'a Galactic tribunal inflicted on them that most cruel of all social diseases: 'telepathy. 'Now, in order to prevent themselves broadcasting every slightest thought 'to anyone within a five-mile radius, 'they have to talk loudly and continuously about the weather, 'their little aches and pains, the match this afternoon 'and what a noisy place Kakrafoon has suddenly become..."http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/view_episode_scripts.php?tv-show=the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy&episode=s01e06

In a field where many are qualified to do the work, the most important discriminator is how the person fits into the team I'm trying to build. How does the candidate relate to those with whom he will be working? If all you want to do is come to work, work your eight hours, not talk with those around you, and go home at the end of the day, then I have no place for you. If you want to work for me, you have to fit the team I'm trying to build. For you to fit the team I'm trying to build, the rest of the team has to like you.

Lol and the funniest part about the above is exactly what I told my boss when doing interviews and hiring.

Logged

“There is your brother, naked, crying, and you stand there confused over the choice of an attractive floor covering.”

In a field where many are qualified to do the work, the most important discriminator is how the person fits into the team I'm trying to build. How does the candidate relate to those with whom he will be working? If all you want to do is come to work, work your eight hours, not talk with those around you, and go home at the end of the day, then I have no place for you. If you want to work for me, you have to fit the team I'm trying to build. For you to fit the team I'm trying to build, the rest of the team has to like you.

Lol and the funniest part about the above is exactly what I told my boss when doing interviews and hiring.

In a field where many are qualified to do the work, the most important discriminator is how the person fits into the team I'm trying to build. How does the candidate relate to those with whom he will be working? If all you want to do is come to work, work your eight hours, not talk with those around you, and go home at the end of the day, then I have no place for you. If you want to work for me, you have to fit the team I'm trying to build. For you to fit the team I'm trying to build, the rest of the team has to like you.

Lol and the funniest part about the above is exactly what I told my boss when doing interviews and hiring.

That statement makes absolutely no sense. What are you trying to say?

No we had this group discussion over hiring new people and someone in that meeting said "Well you should see if they ask the right questions and if they have the technical skill"

But I interjected and said well its more than that, you have to see if they are a good fit with the team, etc.

All I'm saying is I would love to do away with the small talk. It's completely and utterly unnecessary.

Logged

“There is your brother, naked, crying, and you stand there confused over the choice of an attractive floor covering.”

Achronos, you miss the point of office small talk. Nobody really cares about you, nor you about them, however, it's a good way to build camaraderie. In this way the team will always be more successful.

For example, George sits in the corner and doesn't talk to anyone, ever. Judy has been assigned to work on a project with George. How should she handle this situation? She needs his input and advice, etc.

Had there been small talk previous to this occasion, Judy would know that George is an avid fisherman, gardener, painter, builder, etc. She could hone in on these unique talents of his to help with the project. Additionally, she would be able to converse with him, in those inevitable moments when you arrive to meetings, and sit around waiting for others to show up, etc. Plus, she would know not to speak up against a, b, or c and cause strife between the two of them.

The only time office small talk is a bummer, is when you have work to get done, and the other person just drones on and on and on. I often find that my cube turns in to Grand Central Station. Since I am sitting at my desk, I am stuck, because the person is actually blocking my way "out". Thankfully, I am at my desk, and if the boss comes around, the other person is visiting me, and not the other way around.

We have a few people who will easily talk for 45 minutes to an hour....even if I turn my back on them to answer emails, etc. It's just amazing.

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Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.—St. Isaac of Syria

I find that getting a headset for your phone and wearing it all day long works wonders. Everyone thinks I'm on the phone all day long and no one talks to me. Plus, you look ubercool wearing a headset around.

Yes, I've got a Bluetooth headset, that sticks out of one ear. I do that sometimes.

However, here, folks don't really care. They will look at you and ask if you are on "mute"....and if you admit to being muted, even during an actual meeting, they will start talking.

Logged

Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.—St. Isaac of Syria

Problem is that if there's really nobody on the phone, and they glance at the phone...they will easily be able to discern that fact. There's a little window that displays the lines being used, and the phone numbers, not to mention the little red lights that come on.

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Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.—St. Isaac of Syria

Problem is that if there's really nobody on the phone, and they glance at the phone...they will easily be able to discern that fact. There's a little window that displays the lines being used, and the phone numbers, not to mention the little red lights that come on.

Oh, thats a blinger. My phone doesn't have that, so my only risk to faking a phone call is if a call actually does come in and the phone rings while I am having my "conversation". That can get awkward...

No you don't care how my weekend was so stop asking me. But you only ask so I can ask you how yours was which will give you the opportunity to impress and make everyone envious over how great your weekend was.

This is no one in particular.

Most people think I am extremely rude and arrogant because I don't say "Hello" or "Good Morning" to anyone in the office when they look at me.

What you are owed a Hello?

Ya I see you sitting in the chair, what do you want me to say?

I like to clock in, get my work done and get out of there.

LOL and people from work wanna grab drinks after work...to talk and do what exactly?

How you planted a new garden in your background? Yeah I really care. How you got a brand new car? Yeah I really care. Etc. etc.

I'm down for a real conversation and discussion, but nobody has anything interesting to talk about it seems...

I guess that's why we have message boards.

Weren't you the one complaining a week or so ago that your boss thought you humble? You're right...clearly undeserved.

Logged

I seek the truth by which no man was ever harmed--Marcus Aurelius

Those who do not read history are doomed to get their facts from Hollywood--Anonymous

Small talk, I love. However, if you ask my how my day was, then, you better want to hear my answer past "good"

So, how is your day going, Math?

My day was so an so. I woke up at 07h30, went back to sleep until 08h30, and then tried to sleep again and ended waking up at about 09h15ish, when I was planning on getting up at 09h30 so I could get ready for work at 11h00 and school after. I honestly believe that my supervisor thinks that I am an idiot that knows nothing about what I am doing, even though I've been there longer than what she has at the company. Things also keep on changing, which confused me and further makes me look like an idiot in front of her, and she treats me as so for trying to adhere to the old policy, even though it isn't in effect anymore.

That being said, class was amazing as normal. My "Teaching Shakespeare" class is my absolute favourite that I am taking this fall. It is hilarious, not to mention we did amusing things such as have two man skits, and the only instructions we were given is that we ran into each other. In mine, I pick-pocketed the girl I was doing it with, fun times. The dramatic reading that I did of Egeus' speech in 1.1 of A Midsummer Night's Dream was also highly entertaining, and filled with hate.

I then returned to my apartment, and cooking an amazing four cheese pasta with chicken, which I cloned after the one made at The Cheesecake Factory. Then I made chocolate chip cookies, which I gave to my roommates and they enjoyed.

Small talk, I love. However, if you ask my how my day was, then, you better want to hear my answer past "good"

So, how is your day going, Math?

My day was so an so. I woke up at 07h30, went back to sleep until 08h30, and then tried to sleep again and ended waking up at about 09h15ish, when I was planning on getting up at 09h30 so I could get ready for work at 11h00 and school after. I honestly believe that my supervisor thinks that I am an idiot that knows nothing about what I am doing, even though I've been there longer than what she has at the company. Things also keep on changing, which confused me and further makes me look like an idiot in front of her, and she treats me as so for trying to adhere to the old policy, even though it isn't in effect anymore.

That being said, class was amazing as normal. My "Teaching Shakespeare" class is my absolute favourite that I am taking this fall. It is hilarious, not to mention we did amusing things such as have two man skits, and the only instructions we were given is that we ran into each other. In mine, I pick-pocketed the girl I was doing it with, fun times. The dramatic reading that I did of Egeus' speech in 1.1 of A Midsummer Night's Dream was also highly entertaining, and filled with hate.

I then returned to my apartment, and cooking an amazing four cheese pasta with chicken, which I cloned after the one made at The Cheesecake Factory. Then I made chocolate chip cookies, which I gave to my roommates and they enjoyed.

I find chit chat to be engrossing as long as it isn't chit chatty, you know what I mean when I say that like I just said that I said it?

I found the Steelers just lose the game and am let down but what can be done not much.

I will probably go to sleep early tonight like maybe 1am or so and then maybe get a full night's sleep for once.

I may switch from the game now that it's almost certainly over as on Animal Planet I have been half-watching this show about this girl that has worms in her lungs I find that disgusting but still intriguing like a car crash but with worms.

Logged

"Christian America is finally waking up to what fraternities and biker gangs have known for years: hazing works!"

First girl with worms probably ate salad on which human feces had been used as fertilizer and hadn't washed it well enough. Well there you go. Second girl is having headaches... more to come... stay tuned... same worm time... same worm thread...

Logged

"Christian America is finally waking up to what fraternities and biker gangs have known for years: hazing works!"

Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.—St. Isaac of Syria